كليدواژه :
دستوريشدگي ثانويه , چندمعنايي , طرحوارههاي تصوري , تغييرات مفهوم شناختي , حرف اضافه
چكيده لاتين :
The present paper is a semantic survey of prepositions "/barāyē/ and /tā/. The aim of study is to identify schematic meaning of the mentioned prepositions with a diachronic view in order to investigate semasiological changes of meaning as a result of their secondary grammaticalization. To achieve this goal, the meanings of each of the prepositions were gathered from Sokhan and Dehkhoda dictionaries. After analyzing prepositions' meanings, associative image schemas with the meanings have been mentioned. Prototypical and peripheral meanings of prepositions have been determined using Evan and Tyler's (2003) suggested method. After proving polysemy of the mentioned prepositions; semantic network of each preposition; is drawn. Finally, polysemy of the investigated prepositions has been explained with regard to imagery schemas as the result of secondary grammaticalization. The innovative aspect of this research is that the polysemy and secondary grammaticalization of prepositions had not been studied with regard to conceptual schemas associated with their semantic functions before.
Keywords: Secondary Grammaticalization, Polysemy, Image Schema, Semasiological Change, Preposition
Introduction
In cognitive view on language, words are considered either as content words or as structural words. Prepositions are among structural words in cognitive approach to language study. Structural words have grammatical functions whereas content words have lexical functions; as the result of having independent semantic content. As it is emphasized in cognitive grammars, the former group of words; i.e structural words have schematic meanings and from this viewpoint, they oppose content words in language which own content meanings.
In cognitive grammar, meanings of grammatical concepts can be described based on prototypes and image schema; prototypical meaning is rooted in experiences and schematic meaning is rooted in cognitive activities which can be found in an independent mental module (Langacker, 2013.p.67). Prepositions’ polysemy brings about their grammaticalization; firstly, primary grammaticalization and then, secondary grammaticalization. This research is a semantic attempt to investigate schematic meanings of Persian prepositions “baraye” and “ta”. The process of becoming polysemic and then secondary grammaticalization of these prepositions are studied within a cognitive framework, based on image schema.
Materials and Methods
Meanings of “baraye” and “ta” are gathered via library method using Sokhan and Dehkhoda Persian dictionaries and also Persian grammar books. Authors’ intuitions are also used in data gathering and analysis. Componential analysis of meaning, a structural meaning analysis method is used to analyze extracted meanings. Associated image schema with the meanings are also mentioned which in its own turn, reveal the range of semasiological changes of meaning in course of their secondary grammaticalization. Historical information and documentations have been referred to for having a reliable analysis. Accordingly, present paper is a descriptive-analytic survey which aims at finding out fixed and repetitive semantic components via investigating associated image schema with the meanings of each of the prepositions. Furthermore, we shall see how schematic meanings of these prepositions justify the range of semasiological changes of their meanings as the result of their secondary grammaticalization. Prototypical meaning and peripheral meanings of “baraye” and “ta” are extracted based on the proposed method of Tyler & Evans (2003). After proving polysemy of the mentioned prepositions and recognizing the prototypical meanings, semantic network of each preposition is given.
Discussion of Results and Conclusions
Investigating historical information and documentations have determined the oldest meaning or the main meaning of “baraye” and “ta” as follows:
Preposition “baraye” involves three parts; namely [be + ra + e] based on the information from middle Persian. Post position “ra” which indicates direct object in Persian, had been represented in Old Persian as /rādiy/. The verb /rā∂aiti/ in Avestan with the meaning “to prepare” is derived from this root. After gramaticalization, this word has been used as a post position. Contemporary semantic functions of “baraye” are: toward, in a while, target, cause, motivation, possession and comparison. Associated image schema with these meanings are: space- location, motion (which themselves involve image schema path, motion, transition, source and destination), balance, linkage, possession, comparison and evaluation.
Preposition “ta” is derived from /tāvat/ in Old Persian and /távat/ in Sanskrit meaning very big, too long and too far. “ta” in middle Persian has had the word forms /tāk , /tāvak/ and /han-tāi/. In Pahlavi it had been represented as /tāk/ and in manuscripts as /tāī/ or / /tāg , derived from /tāka/ with the meaning through, end and cause. Contemporary semantic functions of “ta” are spatial destination, temporal destination, abstract destination, sequence and pursing. Associated image schema with these meanings are: space- location, motion (which involve image schema path, motion, transition, source and destination).
The fixed and repetitive semantic component in polysemy and grammaticalization of “baraye” is target and the associated image schema with that is destination.
The fixed and repetitive semantic component in polysemy and grammaticalization of “ta” is destination and the associated image schema with that is also destination.
